A NEW four-week competition is giving local women the chance to enjoy some fun, social cricket with friends.

The Fremantle Districts Cricket Club will host the six-a-side Sunset Scorchers competition, giving women the chance to enjoy a game of cricket in a fun environment.

Fremantle Districts club coach Chris Greenwood said the games were played with a soft ball, taking away the need to buy expensive specialist equipment, and the relaxed rules allowed the players to try all facets of the game.

“It really provides no barriers for women wanting to give the game a go,” he said.

“We felt this program would complement the work the community clubs are doing and would offer a fantastic experience to women in the local community who were interested in giving cricket a go.

“Whilst we recommend that teams are made up of players aged 16 and over, we are more than happy to talk to groups younger than that if they wanted to give the game a go.”

WACA female game development co-ordinator Janelle Cuthbertson said there had been a 26 per cent increase in female participation in the past year.

“Ten years ago we didn’t have the option for the girls to participate in ‘girls only’ programs or competitions they would have to play with the boys, whereas now we have the Perth Scorchers Girls League in the metropolitan area, in addition to regional girls competitions now starting up,” she said.

The Sunset Scorchers start on February 3 from 6pm to 7.30pm at Stevens Reserve.